A/N: Thank you all for your patience, I hope this chapter lives up to it. Reviews are highly appreciated and give me that small dose of serotonin that gets me through the day. I'll try to get the next chapter up as fast as possible... but no promises. Hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 18

Nicholas thought he could go at least one day without being attacked by the white and black mottled rabbits. The sound of crossbows releasing their lethal bolts in the crisp morning made him think he wasn't so lucky. It has been days since he escaped from the dungeon, and his original convoy of twenty green-cloaked mammals was now down to thirteen. A gurgled scream expanded across the misty meadows they had been roaming across, and a cloaked wolf crumpled, a black bolt erupting from their throat. Make that twelve, Nick thought despairingly, looking in horror and grief as the wolf spasmed, choking on his blood. Grabbing behind his back, Nick quickly drew his bow. Well, it wasn't necessarily his bow. The last owner's crimson blood soaked into the long slender arm, giving it a sinister look. Quickly releasing two arrows into the treeline up on a nearby hill, he slid behind a small grass mound, where his saviour was. Lieutenant Gaius Quintius lay against the frosted knoll, the greying brown fox occasionally rising at different spots, shooting what seemed to be three arrows each time he sprung up for a second. Nick was able to dodge the screaming bolts and crouched next to the old brown fox. The Ranger nodded at him, quickly slithering to another location, popping up and letting off the whispering arrows. A couple of screams told us his aim was true, two Ghost Seers down. Quickly returning to Nick, the ageing fox looked exhausted. His honey-brown eyes sunken into his sockets, and grey strands now covering his whole face.

"They usually only come in packs of five!" Gaius reminded Nick, yelling over the shouting of the other Rangers. Another blood-curdling scream filled the morning air as a Lynx Ranger fell to the Seers. Gaius seemed to age more as dulled rage burned in his eyes. He sprung up, realising two more arrows in separate directions. In awe, Nick heard two meaty-wet thuds followed by yells. Two more Ghost Seers fell, tumbling down the hill of treelines.

THWACK

Gaius grunted, stumbling down the mound, a black-feathered bolt protruding from his arm, blood already spilling out. Staring wide-eyed at the ruby stain spreading across the Ranger's tunic, Nick steeled himself. Slowly knocking his last arrow against his longbow, Nick closed his eyes.

O Lady Diana, let my arrow fly true. May you bless this bow. And-... help us, we can't go any longer.

Nick opened his eyes after his prayer, digging around in his tunic for something. Finally, grabbing onto a piece of bug rations, he threw it into the air. Amazingly, it floated away as if it weighed nothing more than a feather. Breathing deeply, Nick readied himself, pulling the string taut. As quick as he could, Nick turned the corner of the mound. Scouring the treeline for any movement, Nick strained his eyes in the morning mist. His arm shook with the whole weight of the longbow, the string begging for release. He almost went back behind the knoll before he spotted something move. A branch from a tree moved unnaturally. Hoping it wasn't a fat bird, Nick released with string, his arrow whistling into the treeline.

He should have felt pride.

Why didn't he feel relieved?

Why wasn't it a bird?

As Nick watched the body of the rabbit- shimmering into existence- tumbling down the hill with the white-feathered arrow in its chest, he felt unbalanced, his stomach feeling as if it had dropped off a cliff. Dropping his bow, it fell onto the ground, the mute thud sounding like a roar. His hands shook, trying to find a scarf that wasn't there. The fallen Seer lay crumpled before him. For a second, he saw lavender eyes staring into nothingness, making his world spin, his heart hammering. He blinked. Instead, it was mud-brown eyes that stared into his. His legs felt as if they couldn't hold his weight anymore, and he collapsed. Before he could hit the floor, a couple of Rangers grabbed him, steadying him. He saw their mouths moving but couldn't hear them as his vision tunnelled to the fallen rabbit, his blood thundering in his ears like a waterfall. The earth hungrily drank up the rabbit's blood, soaking the frost-tipped grass red. He thought back to when he had defended himself against a group of similar Rangers in the beginning months of his time at the castle, managing to kill two of them. So why did he suddenly feel ill? Why hadn't he felt like this when he killed those Rangers? His mind ready to snap, Gaius jumped in front of him, obscuring the dead Seer. The ageing fox looked at Nick with sad understanding, gripping his shoulder. The young Prince blinked away tears, realising his dirt-caked cheeks soaked with them. He stared into the Rangers old brown eyes, then down to his blood-soaked arm, the black bolt still sticking out of it. He looked back into Gaius' eyes and realised what the old todd was trying to tell him. Mourn later; we need a leader now.

Gaius reminded Nick of the old wolf Seer, Viktor, the same old, tired stare and the air of unspoken authority. Nick gazed up at the surrounding Rangers. Eleven green-grey cloaked figures stood around him, looking expectantly at him. They need a leader, Nick realised, and he wasn't doing a great job of that breaking down in front of them. As Nick looked at the Rangers, a flicker of movement caught Nick's eyes in the treeline. Heart skipping, Nick thought it was another Ghost Seer. But as he looked over, it was something worse.

There, on the treeline, stood the black-furred god of the underworld. Their tattered robe flickered in the wind, and under their hood, the god's black eyes bore into him, a sad yet mad smile on his lips.

"Every blessing comes with a curse." The voice whispered in his head like a knife on metal, scraping into his mind. With that, the god nodded and disappeared in the wind. Nick's eyes stayed transfixed on that spot, the grass and trees around there dead. His hands shook again, but from the god's appearance and talk of a curse. Looking at the desperate Rangers, Nick took a deep breath in, nodding to Gaius, who bowed back, allowing himself to get bandaged by Clawhauser, who had been hiding in a nearby depression. Picking up his crimson-streaked bow, he stood in front of the cloaked warriors, all running low on arrows. Nick solemnly realised that Jack Savage could send as many soldiers, Seers and food available to hunt them down. Whereas here they stood, Fourteen hopeless mammals with limited rations and arrows. With no reinforcements possible, they were running out of time. By the time they reached their destination, they might as well be dead. But he didn't tell the assembled mammals that. Instead, he stood to talk, a facade of braveness hiding his worry.

"Rangers of the Vulpes Kingdom, warriors and guards of the Wildes. You have shown bravery and loyalty time and time again. For that, I thank you, I could not ask for anything more from you. But I need you all to do me a favour," He looked around, the Ranger's now standing taller, "I need all of you to protect yourselves and your brothers. I want to see each and everyone one of you before me to see it safe to the other side." Some Rangers shuffled awkwardly at that. Nick carried on anyways.

"If any of you fall on our journey not doing that, I'll have your hind in the Underworld." That got some chuckles from the Rangers, lighting up the cold air.

"Ave Vulpulus!" Nick called. The Rangers stomped their right hind-paw, returning the salute. "AVE VULPULUS!" Echoing beyond the meadow, black raven's rippling from the trees. Nick hoped that was a good omen, but knowing his luck well. Nick wasn't too excited. Nodding to them, Nick turned briskly, shouldering his bow and marching forward, the Ranger's following after him. Marching once more forwards to his Kingdom of Ruins.

-=.=-

Judy walked the empty halls, mind racing. The morning sun peaked through the windows, casting long shadows across the long corridors. Just a few hours before, King Geri had sent his best trackers to try to find Nick. They came across a rotting dungeon, where blood dried on every surface of a cell. Judy choked back a sob at that. Thinking about what had happened to her fox left her feeling empty, her soul fracturing. Then the trackers added how they had caught the smell of a cheetah, another fox and the scent of twenty various predator mammals. The three keen-nosed wolves concluded that the party of mammals had made their way north. With the large Wolf King suggesting they might be making their way to Wilde territory.

She walked her castles echoing halls, having ditched her peasant disguise, wearing a comfortable, warm dress gifted from one of the tracker's wives. The simple brown, non-elegant dress was just her style. But as she walked, her mind was scrambled, thinking of all the possibilities, good and bad. Jack could have taken him to have his blood spilt on his home-land as a sick joke. Or he could have been saved, broken out by some Vulpes loyalists and taken to reinstate the Vulpes Wilde throne. She hoped it was the latter, how she wanted more than anything for him to be alright. Too caught up in her thoughts, she found herself in front of her chambers doors, the wood still splintered from when they first took Nick. She slowly traced her digits across the splinters and cracked oak before flinging open the door, dust flew at her face, and the heart-wrenching musk of the missing fox tickled at her twitching nose. She looked around and seemed to notice for the first time how disordered her room was. The books she once hid from her father lay around the room, her clothes lay tossed without regard on any surface flat enough, and her bed was a crumpled mess. However, one thing stood out in the room. At the base of the bed, a wooden chest rested slyly. The young doe made her way to the chest, stumbling over clothes and books, anxiousness gripping her heart. Slowly opening the chest, a sob nearly escaped. There, surrounded by her foxes clothes, was his royal blue scarf. She was hit by his scent, making her collapse on the floor. She had gone months trying to hold back her tears, trying to stop a dam with a cloth. Now that dam broke. Judy's body shook with tears, clutching the scarf, she cried into it, her cries probably heard across the castle. But she didn't care. As Nick's scent entered her senses, pouring out in tears, she didn't care. He was either sent to his death or saved from his captors. And she focused on the alive option. She clutched onto his scarf like it was her lifeline. She had no idea how long she had been there; sitting collapsed on the floor with a deep blue scarf wrapped around her, but when she blinked away her tears and looked up, the morning light that nervously slinked into the room now fully illuminated the dust-filled room, the sun high in the sky. Composing herself, she stood up, her legs wobbling beneath her. Slowly wrapping the soft scarf around her neck, she straightened herself. Leaving her mess of a room behind, she strolled with purpose, ready to meet with the King Jackrabbit.

-=.=-

He lounged in his cushioned chair, slowly sipping on his amber liquor. Official papers were skewed across the large oak desk, waiting for his red-waxed seal. Jack sat there, staring out of his grand window that overlooked the beautiful rolling hills and fields full of colourful crops. Whilst he gradually sipped, he gently played with a small wooden pendant. It was a crude, little thing; a small rabbit, shaped by a knife from amateurs paws. Yet, it was apparent love was poured into the little pendent. Warm memories caused a smile to play on the King's lips before being flooded by the darkness. Cringing inwardly, Jack tipped back his glass, emptying the rest of the stinging liquid down his throat.

"Savage." A voice echoed behind him. Whirling around and quickly tucking his pendant away, Jack stood muzzle-to-muzzle with his dark-cloaked accomplish. Even though these confrontations often happened where the figure would suddenly appear was becoming frequent, they still made Jack jump. Settling down again after getting his fur back down, he poured himself another glass.

"What is it this time? I was in the middle of signing these documents." Jack asked. Although he couldn't see the cloaked mammals eyes under the dark hood, he could feel its gaze boring into him.

"My King, there is something of importance you must know." The figure stated, his words having a hurried tone. But before the figure could continue, the massive doors to his chamber shook, a loud banging accompanying each teeth-chattering shake. Before the doors smashed apart, the figure disappeared in an eruption of smoke, like he usually did, an annoyed growl hanging in the air. A small commotion erupted outside the door, muffled argument making Jack's ears tilt. The banging stopped for a blissful minute, with more arguing following. Then the doors creaked open, a small head popping in. His pathetic squire looked meekly around the corner, his eyes dropping to the ground.

"Y-y-y-your Majesty. P-p-p-Princess Judith Hopps is here to see you." The squires trembling voice annoyingly echoed throughout the chamber. Cursing silently to himself, he quickly wound up the documents and stuffing them into his desk. After he finished, he smoothed back the fur on his head and nodded to the timid rabbit. As soon as his squire's head had disappeared, the doors slammed open, an angry yet determined doe standing defiantly before him. His black striped ears stood on end, his foot thumped a few times, and his pants got slightly tighter. He hated her disobedient behaviour, her unwillingness to give in and kneel before him like a god. Yet, he couldn't help but feel aroused by it. Judy stormed up to the foot of his desk, interrupting his thoughts with a newfound fire in her eyes that even cause him to feel frightened.

"What have you done with Will." She spat, glaring in challenge at the striped rabbit. Jack's mind did a double-take, not expecting the differing answer. Chuckling nervously, he refilled his glass, taking a quick sip.

"What do you mean, Judith? I'm doing what I've always been doing, keeping that fox of yours locked up for information. For all, we know he might know about Prince Wilde." He stated in fake confidence. The small amount he had slowly diminishing as he watched the fire of rage in the lavender eyes slowly smother, replaced by a coy smile that started to stretch on her beautiful grey face.

"So you don't know yet?" She teased, leaning on his large desk. Jack's stomach dropped as he registered the coy grin and that sentence. Finally, he noticed something, something that made his stomach turn cold in disbelief and raw anger. There, sitting victoriously on her neck, was that fox's blue scarf. His door got smashed in again, the hinges screaming in protest. There stood a puffed-out Ghost Seer, wearing a similar white and black cloak as his. Before the Seer could talk, the pieces all aligned in Jack's shocked mind. The weird question, the coy smile and the Seer standing before him covered in twigs and leaves; meaning he must have come from the-

From the tallest tower, the scream heard in the village down below. Startling citizens and slaves alike.

"GET THAT FOX!" Jack screamed, his face suddenly bright red, the three stripes on his cheeks disappearing as he stormed out, five Ghost Seers appearing at the stairs, staring in shock as their King shoved through them, yelling insults. They looked towards the sly doe, who was widely smiling, knowing she got the last laugh. The Seer's coming to their senses, they followed their boss, grabbing their deadly crossbows. Judy smiled victoriously after the Jackrabbit, hearing his angered screams down the tower. Taking one sad look at her dad's old office, now overturned and disgraced by Jack, she floated down the stairs. At the exit of the tower, she snaked her way through the castles green courtyard, nobles looking in surprise as Jack's Seers and the royal guard leaving a wild, trampled path; on their way to the stables, no doubt. Judy nodded to the nobles, priests, brothers, sisters and slaves. They bowed back with their eyes still on the trail left by the disordered battalion of soldiers. The Chamberlain, a handsome looking Deer, came out of his office. The red-suited buck looked in horror at the upturned grass in the courtyard. Walking out of the courtyards gates, she journeyed through the village, citizens and slaves all bowing- the enslaved predators more warmly, seeing the doe- as she followed the sound of the King's rushed group. A few chained predators bowed their head, greeting her in the old Vulpes language, one that Nick would mutter whenever he dropped something. After asking the 'charismatic' Slave Master Diaglo, she learnt that the slaves from the old Wilde Kingdom called her "Grey Fox." At the time, she had laughed it off, with the fat Rhino sneering as he usually did. But now, hearing it again meant more depth than it ever had, making her heart stop, legs nearly crumpling. A heavy set of paws grabbed her, keeping her from collapsing in the dirt road. McCallen, the old sun bear slave, smiled warmly at the princess.

"Ello Judy." He beamed in his barrel-like voice. She greeted him back quickly, her head in a mess as she pushed through awe-struck villagers, staring at the running troops. The sound of iron-clad hooves thundering made her fasten her pace towards the castle gates. Finally making it out of the claustrophobic streets, she gazed towards the dense forest, the midday sun beaming onto the mass of mounted soldiers, Jack and the Seers leading at the front. Just as she was about to make it to the Geri Camp lying just beyond the farm fields, a meek paw stopped her, gripping at her wrist. Staring at its owner, she saw familiar-looking mud-brown eyes. One of her youngest brothers, Henry, stood in the streets, a dirt-caked cloak covering his identity. Before she could question him, his meagre voice spoke first.

"You're leaving, aren't you, Judy?" His brown eye's shining beneath the cloak. Judy looked down at her brother's brown paw, and like his cloak, dirt and soot caked them. Is this what Jack made of her brothers?

"Yes. Yes, I am, Henry." She nodded sadly, holding back tears. Henry scrunched his face as he looked around, and the young doe had to hold back a sob. Stu Hopps always made that face whenever thinking. Henry looked so much like their dad.

Finally, the young buck looked back, and in a hushed whisper, leaned in, "I have something to tell you." His voice was soft, yet it sounded like something in him had shattered. Looking back into those earthly eye's, she saw that reflected in them, seeing that he was barely holding it all together, on the bare thread of hanging on to sanity. Looking around as well, Judy tried scanning for any City Guards or Ghost Seers. Somewhat satisfied the invisible warriors weren't around, she nodded to Henry, taking his paw into hers as she led him down the main road towards the camp full of seawolves. The thundering of hooves slowly faded in the distance, and Judy couldn't help but feel conflicted. On one paw, Nick was still alive and has escaped from the clutches of Jack. But on the other, Jack had his whole Royal Guard and Seers after Nick, some of the most fierce and dangerous fighters in the realm against a Fox who has one leg that doesn't even work. All she wanted to do was to run after the horde of rabbits with nothing but a dagger. But King Geri had promised he would be able to catch up to Nick faster. Even being cocky enough to say he knew where Nick would be heading. She hoped Geri knew what he was doing, or else she won't know what to do. As if on cue, the towering King came out of his massive tent, waving one giant paw at them. Judy and her brother made their way to the encampment, a hastily built wooden fence surrounding it. Judy noticed, embarrassed, with more security since her break-in. They passed two guards at the entrance, their spears snapping together, halting Henry and her. To the side, a ragged figure sat, small stones with runes surrounding them. The figure raised its head, dark orbed eyes slamming into them. Seconds passed in the tense silence. They nodded in satisfaction, going back to their runes, moving them around in some cryptic pattern. The guard's spears snapped back, letting the rabbits passage.

Walking through the small camp full of Northwolves wasn't something Judy would want to do often. Rugged wolves sat around small wooden tables, playing all sorts of games that usually ended up with the parties attacking each other. The Norse mammals walked around with wooden tankards full of ale or mead, bumping into others and cheering loudly. Little Henry didn't seem to be passionate about the camp either, gripping tightly to Judy and staying in her shadow. Finally, their saviour came in the form of a towering wolf wearing full armour and a sword on his hip.

-=.=-

"Are you ready, Judy?" The King asked in his deep entrancing voice, "packed everything?" He ended, looking around his tent as if trying to find the average amount of bags royalty usually packed. Judy smiled sadly, grabbing Nicks scarf and nodding towards a small bag of vegetable rations. The northern King's blue eyes seemed to sag as he looked on sadly at the scarf. But also with newfound respect towards the royal rabbit.

"So are we ready to go, Judith?" Geri pushed, the 'J' in her name sounding more like a 'y'. Before she could respond, however, the timid Henry stepped out from Judy's shadow. King Geri perked up, raising an eyebrow to Judy before focusing his gaze towards her brother. In Henry's defence, he tried standing up higher, looking into Geri's eyes. But after a quiet second, he looked down, his posture closing in again.

"Y-your Majesty, I need to speak to you," Henry looked back to Judy, his brown eyes suddenly looking older, "and Judy." The wolf king seemed to notice the weighted eyes and nodded, sitting onto his throne and gesturing for the two bunny's to sit on the plush cushions that sat on either side of his throne. Curious, Judy kept her eyes on her brother, her head tilted to the side as she kneeled onto the soft cushions. The young buck slumped onto it, his shoulders seeming to hold the weight of the heavens. King Geri, unlike most Kings, sat quietly. Waiting patiently for the fragile buck, his lapis eyes neither firm nor restless, only soft and worried. Finally, after deafening silence, Henry looked up. Judy recoiled at the sudden sight. Henry's eyes seemed cracked and broken, silent yet powerful tears streaming out of them, making the brown fur of his cheeks become darker and mattered. Yet, Henry sat up, staring at the northern King with new ferocity and determination. Geri seemed surprised by this as well. But he leaned forward, letting the broken rabbit know he had his full attention.

Henry spoke up, but instead of a wavered voice, it came out as a steady, just-audible voice, "Do you remember the day Jack Savage went out to take revenge on the Ranger's for our parent's death?" He asked, looking between the two other mammals in the cold tent. But then his full attention went to Judy, his cracked, brown eyes like a window into his mind, making Judy's stomach drop. The intense brown eye's staring into Judy's scared purple ones.

"It was a trap, Judy. It was all a giant trick, and we fell for it like ants to honey, not aware of the massacre that awaited."